Causes of Measles
Measles is caused by infection with the rubeola virus. The virus lives in the mucus of the nose and throat of an infected child or adult.

The disease is contagious for 4 days before the rash appears, and it continues to be contagious for about 4 to 5 days after.

Infection spreads through:

physical contact with an infected person

being near infected people if they cough or sneeze

touching a surface that has infected droplets of mucus and then putting fingers into the mouth, or rubbing the nose or eyes

The virus remains active on an object for 2 hours.